((Author's Notes: I'd like to take a moment to let you all know I have posted a new one-shot, The Last Act. It is a gift fic for my lovely beta and fellow author, CykeclopsFF7 (She just got all her fics reposted to her new account, so give her a visit some time!). It's about Vincent on the night Lucrecia died, so if you like this story you will probably enjoy it as well. It also ties into my continuity, and events that are mentioned in this chapter. We'd both very much appreciate it if you'd give it a read! Now, on with the show. ~ JenesisX ))


Chapter Fourteen: Acceptance

Vincent was surprised by how much better he felt as he walked along the darkened beach of Junon Harbor, hand in hand with the woman he loved. The night air was cool against his skin, and the military base just above provided enough light to allow his lover to see. There was not another soul in sight, and his sensitive hearing told him that no one else was anywhere near the area. It was so peaceful, and he felt the warmth of contentment run through him for the first time in several weeks.

He glanced down at Lucrecia, who was looking out over the ocean with an expression of pure joy on her face. He realized she'd suggested the outing with his differences in mind, something that instantly put him at ease. She really was trying to accept the changes that had been made to his body, doing her best to adapt and find things they could still enjoy together. She was an amazing woman, and he was again struck by the powerful feeling that he did not deserve her.

She had been so patient and understanding when she'd woken him up earlier in the day. He was so afraid and unable to face her, but she'd refused to give up on him. He could still see the love in her eyes, and feel the tender way she'd touched him as she worked to reassure him and bring him back from his torment. Her words had gone a long way toward improving his confidence, though he continued to worry that she didn't know exactly what she was promising. Would she truly be able to accept the way his mind now worked, the more she learned about it? And if she actually saw him transform and experienced Chaos for herself, would she really stay? He knew she meant everything she'd said, but until she came face to face with his demonic side he was not completely convinced she could go through it. And he did not intend to find out the hard way…

He did his best to push aside the lingering doubts, not wanting them to intrude upon their time together. At that moment, he felt almost like a normal man, holding Lucrecia's hand just a bit tighter as they made their way along the deserted stretch of beach. Aeris and her crew had done amazing work cleaning up the litter and pollution in that particular area, nearly wiping away the damage caused by Shin-ra with sweat and dedication. With Lucrecia at his side, Vincent could think of nowhere else he'd rather be.

As if hearing his thoughts, Lucrecia turned her head and smiled up at him, her green eyes shining in the moonlight. He couldn't help but want to smile back, though only one corner of his mouth turned upward when he tried. Her long brown hair was swept back by the soft ocean breeze, and he was once again captivated by how breathtaking she was. Ever since the first day he'd seen her working in the cluttered laboratory, he'd had eyes for no one else. Not even death and thirty years of sleep could change that. Nothing ever would. She was his soul mate, and he would never be able to love another.

"It's such a beautiful night," she said, her voice reverently quiet as if she didn't want to disturb the tranquility of the evening.

"Yes," he agreed, though he was far more interested in her than their surroundings. "I am glad you suggested this… Thank you."

Her smile grew wider, and he was pleased to see a rare confidence cross her face. Her self image had never been good, and he wanted nothing more than for her to see herself the way he did.

"I had a feeling you'd enjoy it."

They lapsed back into a comfortable silence as they continued to walk, Lucrecia moving in a bit closer and leaning her head against his shoulder. He released her hand and wrapped his arm around her, sighing contently.

There had been so much stress as of late, and Vincent finally felt as if he could breathe a bit easier. How could he be anything but satisfied when he had the woman he loved back in his life through a miracle of the fates? Despite everything that had happened and all the challenges he was forced to deal with, it was easy to feel lucky at times like this. He only hoped that, this time, their happiness would last. She deserved it after all she'd done to bring his frozen heart back to life. Her first life had been difficult and largely unhappy, and he wanted to make her second as close to perfect as possible.

"Why don't we stop and sit down for a bit?" Lucrecia suggested, glancing up at him hopefully. "It's so peaceful here this time of night, and I love the sound of the ocean…"

Unable to deny her anything she desired, Vincent nodded and came to a halt. He paused thoughtfully, then unfastened the clasp of his long red cloak and slipped it from his shoulders. Finding a flat patch of sand tucked into the shadows of an unused dock, he spread it out across the ground to create a blanket for them to sit upon. Lucrecia beamed as he settled onto it, keeping his long legs bent at the knees. He held out his right hand invitingly, feeling his cheeks color a bit pink. Giggling, she took his hand and settled herself between his knees, sitting with her back pressed against his body. He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close, leaning over to softly kiss the side of her neck.

Lucrecia rested one hand on his thigh, covering his hands with the other. She leaned back heavily against him, sighing contently and closing her eyes. Vincent did the same, an intoxicating feeling of pleasure washing over him. The peaceful background noise of the ocean and the cool breeze surrounding them only served to increase how amazing it felt. She had been correct… They did need to do things like this more often.

Lucrecia seemed content to sit in silence at first, though after a while she kept glancing at him over her shoulder as if something was on her mind. He knew she'd wanted to spend the time alone together hoping they might be able to talk, admitting to himself how badly he'd been neglecting that aspect of their relationship. Though it was difficult for him, Vincent nervously cleared his throat before managing to find his voice.

"I am sorry… for how I behaved these last few days. It was cowardly, and unfair to you. I hope that you can forgive me."

She turned and smiled up at him, slowly shaking her head. "It's okay, baby… I just wish you felt comfortable enough to tell me how you've been feeling. It's not good to keep so much bottled up inside the way you do."

"How do you explain to the women you love that your thoughts are influenced by the desires of a demon?"

"You can share anything with me, and I'll always listen and not judg-"

Vincent's head suddenly snapped to the left, his every sense instantly yanked away from his lover and focused on object he'd detected streaking across the sky. A small bat had flown out from beneath the safety of the dock, the combination of his heightened senses and Chaos' predatory desires causing him to fixate upon it. He watched with unnaturally alert eyes as it flew away, experiencing a disappointment that was not his own when it vanished into the night. He quickly bit down on Chaos' desire to go after it, pushing the demon's dark thoughts to the back of his mind once more. He blinked rapidly, fighting to clear his head. Vincent sighed miserably when he realized Lucrecia had stopped speaking and was staring at him curiously.

"There, you see," he said, looking down in shame. "That is exactly what I mean…"

"What happened?" she asked, not the least bit angry with him. He dared lift his head to meet her eyes, his expression apologetic.

"I saw a bat," he said simply, unsure of whether or not he ought to elaborate. "I could not help but notice it, and then… Chaos made me continue to watch. I am sorry, I really was listening…"

"It's okay," she assured him. She did not seem to be disgusted as he'd feared, and he did his best to relax. "I've seen that happen to you before, but I never understood what was going on… It's so much better to know, than to wonder if something's wrong, or if I'm boring you."

He had to smile at that, shaking his head at the very notion. "Never," he said, his attention fully focused on her again. "It is I who must bore you… Staying at home so much and never wishing to leave. I am hardly interesting."

"You know I've always been a homebody. My idea of fun is a night spent with a good book, curled up in bed with you… Or maybe watching a romantic movie or two. I don't need much else. I've got you."

Vincent sighed again, beginning to lift his left hand to run it through her hair. When he realized what he was doing, however, he quickly lowered it and switched to his right. He despised his clawed appendage, and did not wish to touch his angel with such a vile mockery of a limb if it could be helped. Hojo had put it there, a fact that only made it more foul.

"You don't always have to do that," Lucrecia scolded him, lightly running one of her hands along the back of the prosthetic. "I'm really not sure how many more times I have to tell you, but it doesn't bother me."

"It bothers me," he said, hearing the bitterness in his voice and instantly regretting it. He could not help but think of the night it was attached to his body, shuddering at the memory.

"So you like to interfere in other people's lives, Turk? Let's see how much you enjoy this!"

The sound of an electric saw filled the air, and he could only watch helplessly as it was brought down upon his left arm. The white hot pain, the blood… Hojo's laughter echoing in his ears along with his own screams of agony…

He didn't notice as Lucrecia shifted in front of him, positioning herself sideways and leaning back against one of his legs for support. She was gazing up into his face with concern, but he'd become so lost in the horrifying flashback that he didn't notice until she spoke.

"Vincent? Are you okay?" she asked, the worry clear in her voice. She reached up and touched his face, gently tipping his chin downward so that their eyes met. He blinked rapidly, struggling to banish the unpleasant image. Why was his mind constantly waging war against everything he enjoyed? It was almost as if he was not meant to find peace. He swallowed hard, battling nausea, his heart racing in his chest.

"Yes, I…" He closed his eyes, disgusted with himself for trying to lie to her. He held up his clawed limb, studying it absently as he kept his other arm wrapped around her. "I hate it because… I remember the night it happened so clearly."

"I've always wondered what happened to you right after I died," she began quietly, gently smoothing his hair back from his face. "You've told me almost nothing from before you joined Avalanche."

"That is because… it is unpleasant. I did not wish to burden you with it."

"Vincent…"

Lucrecia watched him closely, her eyes filled with sympathy and a desire to know more. He knew she only wanted to help, and better understand why he acted so strangely at times. At one time, they had been nearly able to read each other's minds, and he knew she missed that closeness as much as he did. He sighed heavily, deciding that he needed to force himself to tell her. He owed her the truth, especially when she was making such an effort to strengthen their relationship.

"As I've told you before… Hojo shot me in the chest when he caught me attempting to remove Sephiroth from the lab," he began, his voice little more than a whisper. "Everything went dark, and I believe that I may have even died… At least briefly. But then… I regained consciousness, strapped to one of his operating tables."

Lucrecia gasped, lifting a hand to cover her mouth. "He didn't…. Did he…?"

Vincent hesitated, not wanting to further upset her. But he remembered her words when she'd awakened him from his sleep, and took a deep breath before continuing.

"I was awake for the entire procedure. I remember everything… I cannot erase it from my mind. It is often the reason I awaken at night, unable to contain Chaos…"

He hung his head and let his hair fall across his face, wishing the hurt and anger had not been so obvious in his trembling voice. He closed his eyes, realizing how fast his heart was beating as the pain and humiliation of that night raced through his mind. He felt like he was falling, drowning in his memories and unable to break free. His chest grew tight, as if he'd been shot all over again, and it became harder and harder to breathe. He gasped for air, panic beginning to set in. There was no escape… He was damned to relive his nightmare, again and again, until it drove him-

Vincent was yanked back to reality by the realization that Lucrecia had climbed to her knees, facing him and throwing her arms around his neck. She clung to him as if she never intended to let go, crying and burying her face against his neck. He took a deep breath and raised his trembling arms to hold her tightly, exhaling sharply with relief. She had managed to reach through his torment and rescue him once again…

"I had no idea… I'm so sorry," she murmured against him, finally leaning back and wiping away her tears as if ashamed. "Gods, you went through so much suffering because of my mistakes. How can you even stand to look at me?"

"Because I love you," he instantly replied, his voice still a bit weak and shaken. "Everything I endured was more than worth it, because you are here with me now…"

"I love you too, Vincent…"

She leaned forward and kissed him softly, the contact instantly chasing away the remainder of his dark thoughts. He ran his hands along her back as he returned the kiss, feeling needy and almost desperate to be held. Lucrecia kept her arms around his neck, moving one hand to the back of his head as their kiss deepened. Vincent leaned back breathlessly, gazing into her eyes and feeling almost hypnotized by her beauty and the desire he saw reflected back at him. He smiled, a real smile that felt strangely foreign to him, softly caressing her cheek.

"No one else is around," he whispered, a bit surprised at what he was considering. It was so unlike him, but at that moment it simply felt right, and for once he did not let his fears and insecurity get in the way.

Lucrecia seemed taken aback for just a moment, then smiled and leaned in against his body. Their eyes met for an intense moment, neither able to look away. When Vincent leaned down and kissed her again, it quickly became passionate, as if they were two young lovers reunited after a long separation. As they laid down together atop his cloak, all thoughts of demons and experiments were soon forgotten.


((Author's Notes: Oh, baby. I wonder if they went through with it… Teehee. Anyway, serious mode. I hope this chapter showed what Vincent's thought process is at this point, and also demonstrated some progress in their relationship. Also, you people who told me you wanted Chaos to come out on Lucrecia during their walk are cruel! Haha. Never fear, I am certain that by the end of the fic she wil- I've said too much. Ahem. Next chapter, Vincent gets back to work and tries to catch up on some security issues. He's also got a meeting with Tseng to find out more about his 'inside contact,' so we'll see how those two get along this time. Tseng's been a bit busy, as we shall find out. Anyway, thanks as always for your continued support! ~ JenesisX ))